Electric switch.



PATENTED MAY l5.y 1905 1), E. GRAY. ELECTRIC SWITCH, APPLICATION FILED FBB.21,1905.

IGNITR ik UW UNITE srAfrEs PATENT oEEroE.

No. 820.491 l Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15,1906.

Application filed February 21, 1905. Serial No. 246,650.

To all roh/mn it' may concern:

Beit known that I, DAVID E. GRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at 75 Fulton street,\city,"county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which theT'following is a inll, clear, and exact desci ption.

My invention relates to improvements in electric switches, and particularly of the type set forth in my Patent No. 785,419, dated March 21, 1905. l

The object of this invention is to improve upon the construction shown in my aforesaid application, to make the parts `.Lore ready to assemble, more durable, more reliable, and to provide new and improved construction for connecting either one or both ol two batteries into a circuit.

The invention consists in the improvements, the principles of which are illustrated in the accompanying single sheet of drawl` ings.

An insulating base member carries a stationary post having an enlarged head. The Y ase also carries one or more stationary conaots and a multiple contact for affording multiple connection between a plurality of batteries. The switch-arm for connecting the principal contact with the other contacts has an opening adapted to permit of the passage ol the head of the post on the main contact for assembling or disassembling the I parts. For convenience stops may be provided for preventing` the yswitch-arm from being accidentally thrown around too far. The heads of the contacts are countersunk, so as to provide abrupt edges for the reception of the contact-point carried by the under side of the switch-arm, so as tomore securely hold the switch-arm in place and prevent its accidental disengagement.

Figure 1 'is a view showing my improved switch with a diagram of connections for two sets of batteries. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the switch, showing certain ofthe parts in elevation. ln both of these figures the circuits are open. Fig. 3 is a view of the under side of the switch. Fig. 4 is a detailed view, on an enlarged scale, showing the main or central contact-post. Fig. 5 is a sectional view ofthe movable contact member on an enlar ed scale. n

The parts o the switches are 'preferably mounted in abase 1, constructed of insulating material, such as hard rubber, which is adapted to be secured to any suitable support. The switch is particularly designed for use on motor-vehicles and autoboats and. in connection with the ignition devices which control the explosion of the gases in the internalcombustion motors, but it may be of course employed in any other connection.

2 is the main or central contact `p-ost, which has a square shoulder portion 3 einbedded in th base, so as to prevent the posts rotation. T 1e post is secured in place preflerably by a series of nuts, as 4. These nuts also serve to connect the switch into the circuits.

5 is the switch-arm which is formed, preferably, of sheet metal, having a certain elasticity or spring quality, causing it to return to its iiat position after having been deflected therefrom. e.

6 is a knob or handle, preferably of insulat ing material. v

7 is a head which is preferablycarried by the under side of the switch-arm and in this form comprises a screw-head, having a round'- g ed or con'vegg surface. The spring-armi a longitudinal passage or opeiitgY im? perm'ts the arn to be secured in iaen the post 2 bene th the pin 8. f'lliisipin l is round, preferably in cross-section andaifords a ready means of securing the arm in place'. The arm is 'moved at right angles to the base, allowing the pin 8 to project through the opening, and then turning the arm slightlythe edge of the opening passes beneath the pin 8.' The spring 9 serves to hold the arm 5 securely in contact position, and, in fact, affords sufficient elasticity even if the arm 5 is rigid. It also affords a better electrical connection, since it is connected to the I post 2.

10 is a stop-pin carried by the base just below the line of the pin 8. When the switcharm is being attached, it is necessary to raise its outer end slightly to permit it to slip over the top of the pin 10. When the arm is released, the friction of spring 9 holds it in position, while the stop 10 prevents it from being accidentally j arred, so as to slip off of the post 2. The pin 10 prevents the switcharm from being thrown beyond contact position.

11 is a contact member secured to the base of lthe switch and provided with suitable meansfor the attachment of the electric wiring. 12 is a similar contact. Anynumber of these may be provided; but

I have shown IOO my invention as particularly' applied to a switch having two of said contacts. n

X and Y represent two sets ot' batteries which are adapted to operate an igniter or other suitable device which is connected in the circuit.

Z represents a coil for operatingthe igniter. The battery X is connected by the line .fr to contact l1, and the battery Y is connected to the contact 12 by the line y, while the line-Z is a common circuit from both sets of batteries to the central contact or post 2. W hen the switch-arm engages the contact il the batteryX is in use, while when the switcharm engages the Contact 12 the battery Y is in use.

13 is a contact which is movableI in the base and at right angles to the plane of rotation of the switch-arm 14 is a member which connects the contact 12 with the contact 13 and also serves as a spring to hold the Contact 13 in the position shown in Fig. 2, with its ,head slightly raised above the surface of the base. l is a second member connected to the Contact 11 and having a forked end adapted to be engaged by the lower end of the contact 13 when it is depre sed, When the switch-arm is moved onto `the contact 13, the pressure of the arm forces the contact downward, and thus connects the two contacts l1. and 12. At such linie it will be seen that two circuits are established with the batteries in multiple, so that the combined current of thc two batterics is available for operating the igniter. This is particularly uselul when the two batteries have been partially run down and aione would sup plyinsuicient current. The heads of each of the contacts 11, 12, and 12A; are counter-sunk similar to the countersink 16 in Contact 13, as shown in Fig. 5, leaving an abru pt edge lor holding the switch-arm securely in contact position and preventing its accidental disengagement.

rihc advantages ol this switch. wiii beunderstood by those skilled in the art.

What claim is- 1.. In an electric switch, a base member, a pivotally-mounted switclbarm, three contact members having heads projecting above said base, and means for electrically connecting two of said contact members together only when said third contact is engaged by said switch-arm.

2. In an electric switch the combination of an insulating-base, a main contact, a switch arm removably mounted with relation to said contact and rotatable in a plane parallel to said base, a pair of contacts carried by said base and extending above the surface thereof, with either one of which the said arm is adapted to engage for throwing either one of two batteries 1n circuit, a third contact carried by said base with connections for automatically throwing the two batteries in multiple only when said switch-arm'engages said third contact. Y.

3. vIn an electric switch the combination of an insulating-base, a main Contact, a switcharm pivotally carried thereby, a pair of contact members projecting above the surface oiPA said base and adapted to be engaged by said switch-arm, and another contact movable in said base with means for connecting said pair of contacts automatically when engaged by said switch-arm` 4. In an electric switch the combination of an insulating-base, a main contact, a pivotally-mountcd switcli-arm connected thereto, a stationary contact having its head projecting above said base, a movable contact car ricd by the .said base, a spring for holding said contact in its normal position, a member projecting in line with said movable contact and connected with said stationary contact and adapted to be engaged by said movable contact when the same is depressed by said switch-arm.

DAVID E. GRAY Witnesses L. Vai:nLANn.l itoBT. S. ALLYN. 

